IC-NRLF 


PS 
3521 


Cf  (r  O 


1 


THE  FLYING  STAG  PLAYS 
For         The         Little         Theatre 


No.    8 


THE  PRODIGAL  SON 


COPYRIGHT   1919,  BY 

EGMONT    ARENS 

ALL   RIGHTS    RESERVED 


The  professional  and  amateur  stage  rights  on 
this  play  are  strictly  reserved  by  the  author.  Ap 
plications  for  permission  to  produce  the  play 
should  be  made  to  Egmont  Arens,  17  West  8th 
Street,  New  York. 

While  it  is  hoped  that  the  publication  of  the 
plays  in  this  series  will  encourage  their  produc 
tion  in  all  parts  of  the  country,  it  is  held  that  the 
interests  of  the  New  Theater  movement  can  best 
be  served  by  vigorous  protection  of  the  play 
wrights,  without  whom  the  movement  cannot  go 
forward. 

Therefore,  any  infringements  of  the  author's 
rights  will  be  punished  by  the  penalties  imposed 
under  the  United  States  Revised  Statutes,  Title  60, 
Chapter  3. 

THE  PUBLISHER. 


The  PRODIGAL  SON 

A  Comedy  in  One  Act  by 
Harry  Kemp  T  T  as  played 
at  the  Little  ThimHe  Theatre 


Published  by  EGMONT  ARENS  at  the 

Washington  Square    ^Bookshop  >  New  York 

1919 


THE  PRODIGAL  SON 

was  first  produced  by  the  Provincetown  Players 
at  the  Playwrights'  Theatre,  New  York,  on 
March  10,  1917,  with  the  following  cast: 

LEVI,  the  Prodigal  Son        -  -        Lucien  Carey 

SIMEON,  the  Elder  Brother  -     Hut  chins  Collins 

REUBEN,  the  Father      -  Don  Corley 

MIRIAM,  Simeon's  Betrothed  -        -        Ida  Rauh 

The  Play  was  also  produced  by  the  Harry  Kemp 
Players  at  the  Little  Thimble  Theatre,  New  York, 
on  November  5,  1917,  with  the  following  cast: 

LEVI  -----        Don  O'Connor 

SIMEON  -----        Harry  Kemp 

REUBEN  -       -       -       -        -        Charles  May 

MIRIAM  -       -       -       -        Florence  von  Wien 

RACHEL  -----        Dorothy  Irving 


THE    PRODIGAL   SON 


TIME:  Sometime  before  the  beginning  of  the 
Christian  Era. 

PLACE  :  A  Hill  Town  in  Galilee,  near  Capernaum. 
The  scene  is  the  upper  or  guest  room  in  the  dwell 
ing  house  of  the  old  homestead.  A  door  in  the 
back  opens  on  a  corridor.  There  is  also  a  window 
that  gives  on  a  scene  of  distant  hills,  already  rosy 
with  the  rays  of  the  declining  sun.  On  each  side 
of  windows  is  a  curtain  hung  on  rings.  The  room 
is  furnished  with  a  couch,  a  chair  and  a  table.  It 
grows  dusk  as  the  action  proceeds.  For  a  space 
the  stage  is  vacant.  Then  enter  SIMEON  and 
REUBEN,  in  conversation. 

SIMEON 
so  I  can't  help  feeling  a  little  bit  hurt! 

REUBEN 

I  don't  see  why,  Simeon,  my  son.  .  .  .  He's  your 
only  brother  .  .  .  and  he's  been  away — and  in 
hard  luck. 

SIMEON 

Yes  .  .  .  and  while  he's  been  off  running  about 
the  world,  having  a  good  time,  what  have  /  been 
doing?  /  haven't  been  away  .  .  .  I've  stuck  right 
by  you  .  .  .I've  worked  side  by  side  with  the 
servants  when  help  was  short  .  .  .I've  repaired 
breaks  in  the  fences  .  .  .  kept  the  men  with 
plenty  to  do  .  .  .  seen  that  the  crops  were  got  in, 
watched  over  the  flocks  and  herds  ...  in  fact, 
I've  attended  to  everything.  .  .  .  Why,  even  to 
day,  the  very  day  before  my  wedding,  I've  been  off 
in  the  hills  till  sunrise,  gathering  in  sheep  for  the 
shearing  .  .  . 


225 


TI*E  /PRODIGAL   SON 

REUBEN 

I  know,  my  son  ...  I  don't  know  what  I'd  do 
without  you  .  .  .  but  I,  too,  work  hard.  Here, 
on  the  very  day  of  my  youngest  son's  return,  I've 
had  to  go  down  to  Capernaum  to  trade  with  a 
passing  caravan  .  .  . 

SIMEON 

Yes,  we  both  work  hard  .  .  .  [with  renewed 
energy]  but  look  at  him!  He  digs  all  the  shekels 
he  can  out  of  you — calls  it  his  portion  .  .  .  and 
the  first  thing  we  know  he's  down  at  Jerusalem, 
making  a  scandal  of  himself — 

REUBEN 
Don't  be  too  hard  on  him,  Simeon. 

SIMEON 

He  gets  into  disgrace  everywhere  he  goes  .  .  . 
Look  at  the  things  he  did  at  Sidon,  and  at  Alexan 
dria  .  .  .  And  now  he  has  the  impudence  to  come 
home,  expecting  you  to  take  him  back  again. 

REUBEN 
He's  young,  and — 

SIMEON 

Young?  .  .  .  I'm  only  five  years  older  than  he  is 
— suppose  I  ran  off  and  let  everything  go  to  smash 
— the  worthless  dog ! 

REUBEN 

[Breaking  in  angrily  and  raising  his  cane.]  Don't 
you  dare  curse  your  brother ! 

SIMEON 

And  now  you  take  him  back  .  .  .and  you'll  make 
a  big  fuss  over  him,  and  spoil  him  all  over  again. 

REUBEN 

What  is  it  makes  you  carry  on  so  ?  Surely  you  don't 
begrudge  the  feast  I'm  naving  tonight  in  honor  of 
Levi's  return? 


HARRY   KEMP  T 

SIMEON 

[After  a  brief  wrestling  with  himself.]  Yes,  if  you 
want  to  know, — I  do!  I  don't  care  if  it  does  seem 
mean  and  small.  When  did  you  ever  have  a  feast 
for  me,  I'd  like  to  know  ?  Why,  even  the  wedding 
dinner  that  we  are  to  have  tomorrow  night  is  at 
my  own  expense.  And  the  feast  you  are  giving  in 
honor  of  Levi  is  coming  so  close  on  mine  it'll  spoil 
it  entirely.  Why,  you've  never  in  all  your  life 
thought  of  a  feast  for  me! 

REUBEN 

But  you  never  went  away  to  foreign  lands !  You've 
always  been  here  at  home  with  me ! 

SIMEON 

[Striking  his  staff  en  the  floor  impatiently.]  There ! 
That's  just  it !  .  .  .  You've  always  taken  me  too 
much  for  granted. 

REUBEN 
My  boy,  you  break  my  heart,  carrying  on  this  way! 

SIMEON 

I've  got  to  say  what  I  think.  I've  kept  it  in  too 
long  .  .  .  [A  pause.]  And  the  calf  that  I've  been 
fattening — how  about  that?  [Angrily.]  One  of 
the  servants  just  told  me — 

REUBEN 

[Floundering.]  That  calf?  .  .  .  why  .  .  .  why 
...  I  ...  I — that  was  killed  this  morning  for 
tonight's  feast. 

SIMEON 

And  I  was  going  to  butcher  it  tomorrow  for  my 

wedding  dinner!   .    .    . 

[Enter,  with  jaunty  self-possession,  the  Prodi 
gal  Son.  For  a  moment  he  stands  behind  his 
father  and  brother's  back,  observing  them. 
Then  he  speaks. 


8  THE    PRODIGAL    SON 

LEVI 
Hello,  dad! 

REUBEN 
My  son !   My  little  boy !  Levi. 

SIMEON 
Yes,  that's  Levi,  all  right. 

LEVI 

[Embraces  his  father,  and  speaks  over  the   old 
man's  shoulder.]    Hello,  Simeon. 

SIMEON 
Home  again,  eh? 

[Levi  carries  a  dapper  walking  stick  on  a  wrist- 
strap,  on  his  right  arm.  It  is  the  last  word  in 
Roman  fashion.  It  is  in  direct  contrast  with 
the  long,  crooked  staffs  the  Elder  Brother  and 
Father  hold.] 

LEVI 

[Slapping  his  father  affectionately  on  the  shoul 
der,  his  walking  stick  knocks  on  his  father's 
baclt  as  he  pats  him.] 
How  are  you,  Pop? 

REUBEN 

My  son!    My  little  son!    And  so  you  are  home 
again? 

LEVI 

[Heartily.]    Doesn't  it  look  like  it?  .   .   .1  tell 
you  what,  it  is  good  to  see  you  again,  Pop ! 

REUBEN 
And  you  never  forgot  me? 

LEVI 
Of  course  not. 

REUBEN 
How  big  you've  grown ! 

LEVI 
I've  been  gone  five  years. 


HARRY   KEMP  9 

REUBEN 
It  seems  like  five  lifetimes. 

LEVI 
It's  been  like  that  to  me,  too. 

REUBEN 
Ah,  then,  you've  missed  us — 

LEVI 

[Not  hearing  his  father  .  .  .  breaks  in  dreamily 
reminiscent.]  Seems  as  if  I'd  lived  more  than  five 
lifetimes  through  .  .  .  I've  seen  and  been 
through  such  an  awful  lot!  [Sighing.]  I'm  tired. 
It's  a  long  trip  from  Caesarea  to  Galilee.  [Seats 
himself.] 

REUBEN 

[With  great  concern.]  I'll  have  the  servants  pre 
pare  a  nice  warm  bath  for  you  .  .  .  No,  I'll  see 
to  it  myself.  And  I'll  lay  out  new  white  linen,  and 
a  purple  robe. 

[Reuben  goes  out.  Levi  sits  in  sardonic  silence. 

Simeon  sulks.] 

LEVI 

[With  sudden  jocosity.].  Hello,  Simeon!  You 
haven't  given  me  much  of  a  welcome  so  far. 
[Simeon  remains  silent.]  Aren't  you  glad  to  see 
me  home  again? 

SIMEON 
[Breathing  heavily.]    Ye-es! 

LEVI 

Well,  then,  you  don't  act  like  it,  and  you  don't 
look  like  it. 

SIMEON 

Now,  don't  try  to  pick  a  quarrel  with  me  the  first 
thing,  Levi. 

LEVI 

If  we  did  we'd  only  begin  where  we  left  off  the 
last  time,  wouldn't  we? 


10  THE    PRODIGAL    SON 

SIMEON 
Oh,  I've  put  all  that  behind  me  long  ago ! 

LEVI 
Well,  so  have  I,  for  that  matter. 

SIMEON 

[Mocking.]  You  might  as  well  ...  it  wouldn't 
do  you  any  good. 

LEVI 

I'm  five  years  older  now.  I  could  take  care  of 
myself  better. 

SIMEON 
And  I'm  still  the  best  wrestler  in  Galilee. 

LEVI 

[Taking  up  what  has  really  been  in  the  under 
current  of  their  thoughts.] 

I  hear  you  and  Miriam  are  going  to  get  married, 
at  last. 

SIMEON 

Where  did  you  hear  that?  Didn't  you  just  get 
here? 

LEVI 

No.  I  thought  you  and  Dad  knew.  The  camel- 
express  made  such  good  time  that  I've  been  home 
ever  since  noon.  And  you  can  just  bet  I've  looked 
things  over  ever  since  I  got  here.  In  fact,  I  haven't 
even  had  time  to  sit  down  before  this.  I've  seen 
everybody,  from  the  slaves  up.  It  was  Miriam 
herself  who  told  me — 

SIMEON 

[  Uneasily.]  Yes,  she's  to  become  my  wife  tomor 
row,  and  you  might  as  well  know  it. 

LEVI 

It  doesn't  mean  anything  to  me  any  more.  I  got 
over  all  that  long  ago. 


HARRY   KEMP  11 

SIMEON 

It's  just  as  well  ...  it  wouldn't  do  you  any 
good,  even  if  you  hadn't  got  over  it. 

LEVI 

[Impudently.]  If  I  still  wanted  her,  I'd  ask  your 
permission  last  of  all.  But  I  wouldn't  have  her 
now,  not  if  all  the  wealth  of  the  Temple  at  Jeru 
salem  were  coming  with  her. 

SIMEON 

[Angrily.]  You'd  better  hold  your  tongue.  I 
won't  have  the  woman  who's  going  to  be  my  wife 
talked  about  in  such  a  way. 

LEVI 
I  wasn't  talking  about  her. 

SIMEON 
Then  I'd  like  to  know  what  you  were  doing! 

LEVI 

Listen,  Simeon!  There  are  more  women  in  the 
world  than  one:  that's  the  first  thing  my  experi 
ence  in  the  world  taught  me.  And  there  are  cer 
tainly  other  women  besides  the  peasant  girls  that 
live  here  in  the  hills  of  Galilee  .  .  .  [Dreaming.] 
When  I  sro  away  from  here  again! 

SIMEON 

[Brightening  and  relaxing.]  When  you  go  away 
from  here  again?  ...  I  thought — 

LEVI 

f Scornfully.]  Yes,  you  thought  I  was  going  to 
stay,  didn't  you  ?  In  this  sleepy  old  village  ?  Well, 
I  guess  not !  You're  all  so  dead  here  you  can  hear 
your  own  bones  creak.  I'd  die  if  I  had  to  stay 
here  more  than  a  couple  of  weeks. 

SIMEON 
Why  did  you  come  back  then  ?     , 


12  THE   PRODIGAL   SON 

LEVI 

Away  off  there  in  Rome,  I  got  sentimental  about 
the  old  home.  I  actually  thought  that  it  might  be 
the  best  thing,  after  all,  to  come  back,  marry  a 
Galilean  girl,  and  settle  down.  But  now  I  see 
how  hopeless  everything  here  is  ...  how  much 
behind  the  times  you  all  are.  Rome  gets  a  lot  of 
knocks,  Simeon,  and  it  may  have  its  faults,  but,  at 
least,  it's  alive.  I  tell  you  what,  I'd  rather  be 
broke  and  on  the  bum  in  Rome  than  the  richest 
sheep-owner  in  all  Judea.  Ah,  Simeon,  there  are 
a  thousand  and  one  things  you  know  nothing 
about — and  they  will  take  me  away  again. 

SIMEON 

[Coming  slyly  over  and  sitting  beside  him.]  But 
you  were  telling  me  about  the  women ! 

LEVI 

[Mocking.]  Ah,  yes — the  women!  The  women  in 
-the  world  outside  .  .  .  you  can't  begin  to  imag 
ine  how  many  beautiful  women  there  are  out 
there.  There  are  so  many  beautiful  women  in 
Greece  that  it  makes  you  dizzy  turning  around  to 
look  at  them.  They  all  have  such  beautiful, 
straight  noses !  And  the  women  of  Egypt— they're 
beautiful,  too.  Though  they  do  get  old  and  fat  too 
soon,  I  must  admit.  But  a  fellow's  through  with 
them  long  before  that  happens,  of  course.  And 
Cyprus,  ah.  ... 

SIMEON 
[Eagerly.]    And  Rome,  Levi— how  about  Rome? 

LEVI 

[Clasping  his  hands  in  ecstasy.]  The  women  of 
Rome!  [Looking  off  into  space.]  Brother,  the 
finest  woman  here  is  nothing  but  dust  and  ugli 
ness  compared  to  the  least  of  them.  They  have 
little  feet  and  little  hands,  and  the  whiteness  of 
their  bodies — there's  nothing  like  it  in  the  world! 


HARRY     KEMP  13 

And  their  faces  are  all  snow  and  sunlight  .  .  . 
like  the  snow  you  see  on  the  top  of  Carmel,  when 
the  sun  rises  behind  it.  ...  Their  cheeks  arc 
like  snow  colored  with  dawn. 

SIMEON 
And  their  eyes? 

LEVI 
Ah,  their  eyes ! 

SIMEON 
What  color  are  they? 

LEVI 

When  you  look  into  their  eyes  you  forget  what 
color  they  are.  For  there's  something  else  there 
that  our  women  haven't  got  ...  a  spirit  .  .  . 
a  freedom  .  .  .  [low  and  impressive].  The 
women  of  Rome  belong  to  themselves  . 
they're  just  as  free  as  the  men. 

SIMEON 

You  mean  to  tell  me  the  men  don't  own  the  wo 
men  there?  Traveling  has  turned  your  head,  boy. 

LEVI 

If  it  has,  I'm  glad  [rising  and  pacing  restlessly  to 
and  fro].  I  never  could  be  contented  here  any 
more. 

SIMEON 
You  never  were. 

LEVI 

So  I'll  just  stay  a  little  while  and  see  everybody, 
and  then  I'll  start  out  again. 

SIMEON 

[Hypocritically.]  Father  will  expect  you  to  stay 
for  good. 

LEVI 
I  love  father,  all  right  .   .   .  but  I  can't  stay  here. 


14  THE  PRODIGAL   SON 

SIMEON 

[Relieved.]  Levi,  you're  not  such  a  bad  sort,  after 
all.  Suppose  we  shake  hands  and  be  decent  to 
each  other. 

LEVI 

Oh,  I'm  willing  to  be  friends  again,  if  you  are. 
[They  shake  hands  after  the  Roman  fashion.] 

REUBEN 

[At  first  from  without.]  Come,  Levi,  everything's 
ready  for  your  bath.  [Entering,  and  overcome 
with  joy  at  sight  of  the  reconciliation.]  Simeon! 
Levi!  .  .  .  I'm  the  happiest  man  in  all  Judea 
today ! 

[Going  up  to  his  sons,  he  puts  an  arm  over  the 

shoulder  of  each.] 

SIMEON 
I  never  did  believe  in  holding  a  grudge. 

LEVI 
Neither  did  I.  I'm  glad  we  made  up. 

REUBEN 

[To  Levi.  Placing  a  large  bath-towel  over  the 
latter's  arm.]  There,  Levi  ...  go  and  take  a 
nice  warm  bath.  It  will  freshen  you  up  for  to 
night's  feast. 

[Levi  goes  out.] 

REUBEN 

[To  Simeon.]  And  now  I  must  hurry  down  and 
see  how  the  preparations  for  the  feast  are  getting 
on. 

[Reuben  goes  OMt.  For  a  space,  Simeon 
grouches  about  the  room.  Then,  suddenly, 
Levi  comes  in  again,  bath-towel  over  arm,  as 
before.  He  throws  it  disdainfully  across  the 
couch.] 

SIMEON 
You've  taken  a  mighty  quick  bath. 


HARRY   KEMP  15 

LEVI 

I'm  out  of  the  humor.  I  can't  stand  getting  into 
an  old  wooden  tub — as  we  used  to — once  a  week 
.  .  .  after  those  magnificent  baths  at  Rome.  You 
ought  to  see  them,  Simeon  .  .  .  great  marble 
staircases  leading  down  into  a  hundred  pools 
.  .  .  and  each  pool  of  a  different  temperature 
.  .  .  and  some  of  the  waters  have  strange  per 
fumes  in  them  .  .  .  and  thousands  of  slaves  wait 
on  a  fellow  .  .  .  and  .  .  . 

SIMEON 

[Roughly.]  The  baths  of  Rome !  .  .  .  I've  got  to 
wash  the  sheep.  It's  shearing  time.  [Going.] .  But 
make  yourself  at  home,  Levi.  In  a  few  hours 
we'll  feast  together. 

[Simeon  goes  out.    Levi  seats  himself  on  the 
couch.  Enter  cautiously  Rachel.] 

RACHEL 

[Seating  herself  at  his  side.]  Levi,  I  thought  I'd 
come  up  and  see  you  as  soon  as  you  were  alone. 

LEVI 

And  here  you  a.re.  So  you're  the  little  tomboy  I 
knew  when  I  left  home?  You  certainly  have 
grown.  .  .  .  But  tell  me,  why  have  you  come  to 
my  room?  Aren't  you  afraid  my  brother  will 
have  you  whipped  for  this? 

RACHEL 
Don't  worry.    He  won't  catch  me. 

LEVI 
But  what  do  you  want? 

RACHEL 

That's  a  nice  question  to  ask!  I  want  to  set  out 
for  Rome  with  you  when  you  go  away,  that's  what 
I  want. 


16  THE   PRODIGAL   SON 

LEVI 

Well,  a  day  in  this  place  is  about  enough  for  me. 
I'm  leaving  again  tomorrow. 

RACHEL 

No  matter  when  you  leave,  you  must  take  me  with 
you — even  if  it's  tonight. 

LEVI 

But  how  can  I?  I  don't  love  you,  and  I  don't 
want  you  in  the  way. 

RACHEL 
Oh,  for  that  matter,  I  don't  love  you,  either. 

LEVI 

[His  egotism  hurt.]  No?  Then  why  should  I 
take  you  with  me? 

RACHEL 

[Intensely.]  Don't  you  think  a  woman  can  get 
tired  of  living  in  the  same  place  with  the  same 
people  all  the  time,  just  as  well  as  a  man?  Don't 
you  think  a  woman  sometimes  wants  to  go  off  and 
change  her  life  till  she's  somebody  else,  too ! 

LEVI 

[Slowly  turning  half  around  and  scrutinizing  her.] 
Who's  put  all  this  into  your  head? 

RACHEL 
You! 

LEVI 
[Cautiously.]    And  you're  sure  you  don't  love  me? 

RACHEL 

Tt  seems  that  living  in  Rome  has  made  you  con 
ceited. 

LEVI 

H'm!  .  .  .  Rachel,  suppose  I  did  take  you  with 
me  to  Rome — what  could  you  do  there? 


HARRY   KEMP  17 

RACHEL 

Oh,  take  me,  Levi — and  I'll  promise  you  you  won't 
have  me  on  your  hands  .  .  .  just  take  me  with 
you,  that's  all  I  ask.  Since  you  got  here  this  noon 
I've  been  thinking  and  thinking  of  all  the  great 
cities  you've  talked  about  .  .  .  and  the  life  there 
.  .  .  and  the  lights  .  .  .  and  the  dancing  and 
play-acting  and  turning  of  night  into  day — and  I 
want  to  get  away  from  here ! 

LEVI 

And  I  ask  you  again,  what  could  you  do  for  a 
living  in  Rome? 

RACHEL 

[Enthusiastically.]  I  want  to  become  a  great 
dancer ! 

LEVI 

[Bored.]  Yah!  .  .  .  That's  what  they  all  want 
to  be.  ...  In  Rome,  sooner  or  later,  every 
mother  springs  a  dancing  daughter  on  her  ac- 
qmintances.  And  the  city  is  full  of  professional 
dancing-girls.  They  have  Egyptian  dancers  .  .  . 
and  Greek  dancers  .  .  .  and  Etruscan  dancers 
.  .  .  they  even  have  dancing  men  and  women 
from  Hispania.  .  .  .  And  so  the  craze  has  got 
here  at  last,  too ! 

RACHEL 

[With  impetuous  eagerness.]  I  know  a  lot  of 
Phoenician  dances.  I  could  try  them.  I  learned 
them  from  a  Phoenician  concubine  of  your  fath 
er's.  Arlaj  was  her  name. 

LEVI 
[Quickly.]    Where  is  she? 

RACHEL 

Your  father  got  angry  with  her  and  sold  her  to 
the  master  of  a  passing  caravan. 


18  THE   PRODIGAL   SON 

LEVI 

[Half  musing.]  So  I  can't  count  on  her,  then. 
Phoenician  dances!  .  .  .  [Rising  from  the 
couch.]  Phoenician  dances!  .  .  .  That  is  some 
thing  new — something  that  Rome  has  never  seen! 

RACHEL 
Well,  what  do  you  say? 

LEVI 

[Kindling  to  the  possibilities  of  the  idea.]  What 
do  I  say?  Rachel,  I  say  that  you've  struck  a  big 
idea!  [Takes  her  by  the  arm.] 

RACHEL 
What  are  you  doing? 

LEVI 

Never  mind  .  .  .  get  up !  Stand  over  there  .  .  . 
now,  pose !  .  .  .  Move  about  a  little !  You  are 
graceful,  and  you've  got  a  good  figure,  there's  no 
denying  that.  .  .  .Rachel,  I  think  I  will  take  you 
to  Rome  with  me;  but  how  I'll  manage  it  I  don't 
quite  see.  ...  I  haven't  enough  money  to  buy 
you  from  my  brother,  and  I  don't  think  he'd  let 
you  go  ...  he's  greedy  that  way. 

RACHEL 
[Determined.]    I'll  run  away  with  you! 

LEVI 

But,  as  I've  hinted,  you  happen  to  be  my  brother's 
concubine. 

RACHEL 
[Intensely.]    He  marries  Miriam  tomorrow! 

LEVI 
Well,  what  of  it,  he  still  owns  you,  doesn't  he? 


HARRY   KEMP  19 

RACHEL 

[With  spirit.]  He  owns  nothing.  Like  the  women 
of  Rome,  I  belong  to  no  one  but  myself  and  the 
man  I  choose  to  give  myself  to. 

[Miriam  knocks  at  the  door  without.] 

LEVI 
[Low.]    Here.  Get  under  the  couch. 

RACHEL 

[Stubbornly.]  No.  I  won't.  Not  till  you  swear  me 
an  oath  to  take  me  to  Rome ! 

LEVI 
Simeon  will  almost  kill  you. 

RACHEL 
And  you — will  you  go  blameless?  Will  you  swear? 

LEVI 
Very  well — I  swear.   .    .    . 

RACHEL 
That  you  will  surely  take  me  to  Rome  with  you? 

LEVI 

I  swear  by  the  altar  at  Jerusalem.  [As  Rachel 
gets  under  couch.]  We'll  steal  two  of  my  father's 
best  camels  .  .  .  we'll  go  before  dawn,  this  very 
night.  .  .  . 

RACHEL 

[Her  head  thrust  out,  morally  shocked.]  What? 
You'll  steal  your  father's  camels? 

LEVI 

[With  non-moral  seriousness.]  Why  not?  He 
won't  pursue  me.  The  laws  are  too  severe  on 
camel  thieves.  He  loves  me,  you  know  .  .  .  and 
my  brother — he'll  be  glad  to  get  rid  of  me  so 
soon. 

MIRIAM 
[Whispering  without.]    Levi !    Let  me  in.    It's  I! 


20  THE    PRODIGAL    SON 

LEVI 
I?   Who? 

MIRIAM 

Hush.  Not  so  loud.  Someone  will  hear.  It's  I, 
Miriam. 

LEVI 

[Peevishly.]  Then  go  away!  Taking  a  scroll  of 
Scripture,  he  begins  to  intone  monotonously.}  In 
the  beginning  God  created  the  heavens  and  the 
earth — Oi !  Oi !  Oi !  .  .  .  You  are  interrupting 
me  at  my  devotions. 

MIRIAM 

[Opening  door  stealthily  and  coming  in.}  Levi,  I 
have  come  to  you  at  last. 

LEVI 
I  see  that  plainly  enough. 

MIRIAM 

[Calmly.}  I  have  come  to  go  away  with  you.  We 
must  go  this  very  night  .  .  .  don't  say  no.  The 
two  best  camels  your  father  owns  wait  for  us 
even  now  at  the  village  caravansary.  [Lower.}  I 
stole  them ! 

LEVI 

The  devil  you  say !  [He  shows  a  pleasure  over 
this  information  which  Miriam  interprets  in  her 
fwvour.}  But,  Miriam,  what  do  you  mean  by  this? 
Don't  you  know  that  tomorrow  you  are  to  marry 
Simeon,  my  brother? 

MIRIAM 

[Seating  herself  uith  an  air  of  quiet  and  sure  pos 
session  by  his  side.}  It  is  just  that  that  I  must 
now  escape.  Oh,  Levi,  since  you've  been  telling 
me  about  the  women  of  Rome!  .  .  . 

LEVI 
I  wish  I'd  kept  my  mouth  shut. 


HARRY   KEMP  ZJ 

MIRIAM 

Levi,  I'm  glad  you  came  back  for  me.  ...  I 
somehow  always  felt  you  would. 

LEVI 
But,  Miriam,  I  did  not  come  back  for  you. 

MIRIAM 
You  loved  me  once. 

LEVI 

That  was  long  ago.  And  you  didn't  love  me.  And 
your  people  and  my  people  had  it  all  arranged  be 
tween  them  that  you  were  to  marry  Simeon — so 
that  was  the  end  of  it !  Then  I  went  away  .  .  . 
after  I  had  a  fight  with  my  brother  and  got  a 
pood  beating  at  his  hands.  [He  scrutinises  her 
closely.]  I  always  thought  you  loved  him. 

MIRIAM 

I  did.  But  now  I  feel  that  he  has  kept  me  waiting 
too  long. 

LEVI 

That  was  to  be  expected.  He  couldn't  afford  mar 
riage  at  that  time,  and  so  he  took  a  concubine. 
But  now  that  father  has  deeded  him  a  two-thirds 
share  in  the  property — 

MIRIAM 

To  tell  the  truth,  after  you  left  I  began  to  think 
more  and  more  of  you,  and  less  and  less  of  Si 
meon  .  .  .  and  now  I  feel  that  Simeon  and  I  are 
not  really  suited  to  each  other. 

LEVI 
Where  did  you  get  that  idea?    It's  not  orthodox. 

MIRIAM 

I've  been  thinking  a  lot  about  what  you  told  me  of 
the  women  of  Rome — 

LEVI 
Eh? 


22  THE   PRODIGAL   SON 

MIRIAM 

Why  should  I  marry  this  man,  when  I'm  not  sure 
I  love  him.  No  [with  determination],  I  am  going 
with  you. 

LEVI 

But  you  belong  to  my  brother  already,  by  be 
trothal. 

MIRIAM 

Levi,  like  the  Roman  woman,  I  belong  to  no  one 
but  myself  and  the  man  to  Vvhom  I  choose  to  give 
myself.  And  I  love  you.  I'm  sure  I  do.  We'll 
leave  for  Rome  before  dawn. 

LEVI 
You're  not  asking  much  ! 

MIRIAM 

Tomorrow  it  will  be  too  late  forever.  The  wed 
ding  .  .  .  oh,  Levi,  if  I  stayed  here  I'd  go  crazy. 
And  I  know  I  must  love  you,  because  ever  since 
you've  come  back  everything  has  grown  suddenly 
different. 

[Raienously  she  throzvs  her  arms  around  Levi's 
neck.  In  so  doing  she  knocks  over  the  candle 
and  the  room  is  filled  unth  darkness.} 

LEVI 

Stop,  Miriam!  .  .  .  Don't!  .  .  .  I'm  only  a 
weak  man ! 

\A  long  silence.} 

LEVI 

[Resuming  in  a  far-away  voice.}  Go  now!  [A 
sound  of  steps  ivithout.]  Go !  .  .  .  [  hear  some 
one  coming.  [The  door  is  tried  for  entrance.} 
No  .  .  .  hide  somewhere  .  .  .  it's  too  late.  [A 
vigorous  knocking.} 

SIMEON 

[Pounding  on  door  ivithout.}  Levi,  if  you  don't 
open  this  door,  as  sure  as  there's  a  God  in  heaven, 
I'll  kill  you. 


HARRY   KEMP  23 

MIRIAM 
[Terror-stricken.]    Hide  me! 

LEVI 

Be  quiet!  [To  Simeon,  in  a  loud  voice.]  Go  away! 
.  .  .  This  is  a  nice  way  to  treat  me  on  my  first 
day  home ! 

SIMEON 

I  tell  you,  Miriam  is  in  there  with  you — I'll  kill 
you  both  when  I  get  in. 

[A  fresh  onslaught  on  the  door.] 

LEVI 

[Hurriedly,  to  Miriam.]  Hide  somewhere!  .  .  . 
No,  not  under  the  couch  .  .  .my — my  trunk's 
there.  Get  behind  the  curtain,  near  the  door.  And 
be  sure  and  slip  out  whenever  I  give  you  the  first 
chance. 

MIRIAM 

[Getting  behind  the  curtain.]  Remember,  the 
camels  are  ready. 

LEVI 

Shut  up.  Meet  me  behind  the  barn,  just  before 
dawn. 


[Battering  on  the  door  with  redoubled  fury.]  Mir 
iam's  here  and  I'm  going  to  get  her.  If  it  isn't 
so,  why  is  your  light  out? 

[Levi  flings  the  door  open  and  the  brothers  con 
front  each  other — Levi  smiling  sarcastically, 
Simeon  grim  and  stern.  After  glaring  search- 
ingly  into  Levi's  face  for  a  moment,  Simeon 
brushes  him  aside,  comes  forward  and  puts 
the  candle  which  he  carries  on  the  table.} 


24  THE   PRODIGAL   SON 

SIMEON 

I  heard  a  man  and  a  woman's  voices  mixing  as  I 
was  walking  under  the  window  .  .  .  thtn  I  saw 
your  light  go  out  ...  the  voice  sounded  like 
Miriam's.  I'm  quite  sure  ii  was  hers.  Besides, 
Jacob,  the  old  slave,  tells  me  she's  been  talking 
rather  queerly  lately  about  you,  and — 

LEVI 

Don't  make  an  ass  of  yourself  .  .  .  there's  no 
one  here.  You  only  heard  me  at  my  prayers.  .  .  . 

SIMEON 

[Scornfully.]  You've  got  mighty  religious  all  of 
a  sudden. 

[As  this  goes  on,  Levi  insensibly  backs  toward 
the  curtain,  behind  which  Miriam  stands  con 
cealed.  Noticing  this,  and  seeing  the  curtain 
bulge,  Simeon  starts  foncard.] 

SIMEON 
You  don't  act  like  a  man  who's  alone. 

[Simeon  makes  a  rush  and  grabs  at  the  curtain 
oier  Lett's  shoulder.  Miriam  screams.  Si 
meon  tries  to  pull  her  out,  but  Levi  leaps  at 
him,  breaks  his  hold  and  pushes  him  back  to 
the  center  of  the  stage.] 

SIMEON 
[Furio,us.]    Oh,  the  shamelessness  of  women! 

LEVI 

[Standing  tense  and  waiting  for  a  fresh  attack.] 
It's  only  a  slave  girl — since  you  must  know  ! 

SIMEON 
What  slave  girl? 

LEVI 

I  won't  tell  you  .  .  .  and  I'll  keep  you  from  find 
ing  out,  too. 


HARRY   KEMP  25 

LEVI 

[As  he  grapples  again  with  Simeon.}  You'll  find 
me  a  different  man  now  from  what  I  was  five 
years  ago. 

SIMEON 

[Laughing  exultingly  as  he  takes  Levi  about  the 
waist  and  lifts  him  off  his  feet.}  And  you'll  find 
I'm  still  the  strongest  man  in  Galilee. 

LEVI 

[Hooking  Simeon's  nose  between  the  two  first 
fingers  of  his  left  hand,  pushing  his  head  back  and 
instantly  striking  Simeon  across  the  windpipe  with 
the  stiffened  edge  of  his  right.]  And  I've  learned 
a  trick  or  two  from  the  wrestlers  at  Rome. 

[Simeon  falls  heavily  to  the  floor  and  lies  there 
groaning.] 

LEVI 

[Opening  the  door  for  Miriam.]  Get  out,  quick! 
I  hear  the  Old  Man  coming ! 

REUBEN 
[Without.]    What's  the  matter? 

[Miriam  rushes  out.  To  save  her  face,  escape 
being  cut  off  by  Reuben's  approach,  she  turns 
abruptly  in  her  tracks  and  begins  to  cry  out, 
at  the  same  time  beating  on  the  door.} 

MIRIAM 

[Without.}  Help!  Help!  They're  killing  my  hus 
band ! 

[The  door  is  Hung  open.  Reuben  appears,  staff 
in  hand,  Miriam  close  behind.} 

REUBEN 

{Looking  in  a  daze  at  Simeon,  stretched  on  the 
floor  by  the  couch,  and  Levi  standing.]  Levi! 
Simeon !  What  has  gone  wrong  ? 


26  THE   PRODIGAL   SON 

SIMEON 

[Recovering,  though  still  groggy,  begins  to  get  to 
his  feet.  As  he  rises  he  glimpses  Rachel  under 
couch.}  Ha!  Rachel  .  .  .  you! 

[With  one  hand  he  turns  the  couch  completely 
over,  uncovering  the  crouching  concubine. 
With  the  other  he  seizes  her  and  lifts  her 
roughly  to  her  feet,  swinging  her  around  to  a 
kneeling  position  in  the  center  of  the  group.] 

MIRIAM 

[With  a  great  burst  c,f  indignant  surprise, 
which  all  but  Levi  and  Rachel  interpret  as 
the  indignation  of  virtue.] 

My  future  handmaid  playing  us  such  tricks!  [To 
Simeon.]  Have  her  flogged  till  her  hide  peels  off! 
[To  Reuben.]  It  was  she,  my  father,  that  caused 
all  this  trouble ! 

RACHEL 

[In  a  low,  defiant  tone.]  If  I  was  mean  enough 
I  could  say  a  few  things! 

[Levi  gives  her  a  glance  full  of  meaning  and 

she  subsides.] 

REUBEN 
Come,  my  sons,  I  must  have  an  explanation ! 

SIMEON 

[Pointing  nith  disgust  to.  Rachel.]  Can't  you  see 
for  yourself ! 

REUBEN 

[Looking  severely  at  Rachel.]  So  that's  it,  is  it? 
.  .  .  [To  Simeon.}  The  caravan  which  lies  at 
Capernaum  over  night  leaves  for  Baalbec  tomor 
row.  Take  my  advice,  Simeon,  and  sell  her  off  to 
the  master  of  it.  That's  the  way  to  deal  with  un 
faithful  concubines. 

[They  staff  to  go  out,  leaving  Rachel  and  Levi 

alone.   But  Miriam  drags  back.] 


HARRY   KEMP  27 

SIMEON 

[Irritably,   to   Miriam.]     What   are  you  dragging 
behind  for? 

MIRIAM 

[With  concealed  jealousy,  pointing  to  Rachel.} 
Are  you  going  to  leave  her  here? 

[Levi  makes  signs  to  Miriam  to.  keep  still.] 

SIMEON 

I  have  no  further  use  for  her.   And  I'll  tend  to  her 
case    tomorrow.     [To    Reuben.]     There's    no    use 
raising  a  row,  father.    I'll  take  your  advice. 
[Reuben,  Miriam  and  Simeon  go  out.] 

RACHEL 

[Running  up  to,  the  door,  then  rushing  back  to 
Levi.]  Now  see  what  you've  got  me  into ! 

LEVI 
[Astonished.]    What  I've  got  you  into? 

RACHEL 
Yes,  what  you've  got  me  into ! 

LEVI 

Say,  rather,  what  I've  got  you  out  of!  Cheer  up, 
Rachel  .  .  .  we'll  take  those  two  camels — 

RACHEL 
[Enthusiastically.]    The  camels  Miriam  stole? 

LEVI 

Yes  .  .  .  and  we  won't  even  wait  for  the  feast. 
My  brother  can  warm  over  the  fatted  calf  for  his 
wedding  dinner. 

RACHEL 

[Ecstatically.]  And  you're  really  going  to  take  me 
to  Rome  with  you? 


28  THE   PRODIGAL   SON 

LEVI 

Yes,  and  what's  more,  when  we  get  to  Rome  you 
shall  be  Ra-chell,  the  great  Phoenician  dancer ! 

RACHEL 
And  you  ? 

LEVI 

[Mischievously.]     And    I  — why,    I'll    be    your  — 
manager ! 

CURTAIN 


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THE  CHESTER  MYSTERIES,  The  Nativity  and 
Adoration  Cycle  of,  as  performed  on  Christmas 
Eve  at  the  Greenwich  Village  Theatre. 

With  a  prefatory  note  on  the  sources  and  method  of 
playing,  including  the  Sheapharde's  Play,  The  Offering 
of  the  Sheaphardes  and  the  Adoration  of  the  Magi. 
Edited  by  Frank  Conroy  and  Roy  Mitchell. 

No.  i.  THE  SANDBAR  QUEEN,  a  Melodra 
matic  Comedy,  by  George  Cronyn,  as  played  by  the 
Washington  Square  Players. 

Portraying  vividly  the  flow  of  swift  passion  and  rugged 
life  on  the  Frazer  River,  where  civilization  has  not  yet 
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No.  2.  NIGHT,  a  Poetic  Drama  in  One  Act,  by 
James  Oppenheim,  as  played  by  the  Provincetown 
Players. 

Everything  is  subdued  to  the  poem.  The  scene  is  merely 
a  concave  sheet  flooded  from  the  back  with  violet  light. 
A  mound  before  this  suggests  a  hilltop  against  night 
sky.  The  characters  are  silhouettes,  and  their  few 
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for  every  word,  every  rhythm,  every  tune  and  melody. 
The  result  is  very  moving,  very  poignant. 

No.  3.  THE  ANGEL  INTRUDES,  a  Comedy  in 
One  Act  and  a  Prologue,  by  Floyd  Dell,  as  played 
by  the  Provincetown  Players. 

The  amusing  story  of  Jimmy,  whose  Guardian  Angel 
has  come  down  from  Heaven,  only  to  elope  with  his 
(Jimmy's)  sweetheart. 


No.  4.  ENTER  THE  HERO.  A  Comedy  in  Ont 
Act,  by  Theresa  Helburn,  as  played  by  the  St. 
Francis  Players  in  San  Francisco. 

Ruth  Carey  has  conjured  up  a  lover,  who  suddenly  ap 
pears   in   the   flesh,   bringing   with   him   amusing  compti- 


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LESS  BLIND.  A  Tragic  Comedy  in  One  Act,  by 
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The  scene  is  a  rag  picker's  cellar.  The  characters  move 
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Allegory  in  One  Act,  by  Mary  Carolyn  Davies,  as 
played  by  the  Provincetown  Players. 

Life  is  a  slave,  that  may  become  a  cruel  master.  The 
play  is  a  poetic  allegory  concerning  Life,  and  those  who 
were  afraid  of  him,  as  well  as  those  who  feared  mm 
not. 

No.  7.  BLIND.  A  Comedy  in  One  Act,  by  SCUIIMM 
O'Brien,  as  played  by  Wlntford  Kane's  In-n 
Players. 

Johnny  Burts  is  not  as  blind  as  he  seems,  and  he,  to 
gether  with  his  nephew  Shawn,  manage  to  see  a  great 
deal  more,  upon  occasion,  than  that  officer  of  the  law, 
Patseen  Corey. 

THE  PRODIGAL  SON,  by  Harrv  Kemp,  (Kemp 
Players  at  the  Little  Thimble  Theatre,  New  York.) 

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